Do the Math! Its really not that hard! Its just basic addition and subtraction. Add these numbers together:

• 1. The initial cost of the item you are selling on Ebay
• 2. Your insertion fee
• 3. Your photo hosting fee if any
• 4. Aany extra fees, (multiple category, gallery, subtitle fees, featured listing fees, etc. if there are any)
• 5. Relisting fees if item doess’t sell
• 6. When your item sells, add your final value fees
• 7. Paypal fees

The formula will look something like this:

Selling price-(insertion fee + (multiple category fees + sub title fees + any relisting + final value fees + paypal fees)= Profit or loss.

Right? Nope. Thats just part of the story. Now you need to account for the cost of aquiring the item.

The cost of acquisition includes the time you spent acquiring the item plus any other related expenses such as vehicle expense and food and lodging expense, if any. And thats not all!!

Now add the time for taking photos, cost of a photo setting such as dividers and props, if any. The time to crop and size the photo and the time to write the item description and do the actual listing at minimum wage must also be added.

Now your formula looks something like this:

Selling price-(insertion fee + (multiple category fees + sub title fees + any relisting + final value fees + paypal fees) + expense to acquire item (gas and time) + photo preparation + description writing + listing (time)
= Profit or loss.

Do you have anything left? If you do, that’s what you are making on eBay. If not, you are losing your shirt. Find something else to sell!

• The first requirement and perhaps the most important is a quiet work space. You cannot have background noise such as music, talking, kids yelling, dogs barking, and other telephones ringing. Nor can you have kids and spouses interrupting your work time asking questions or just wanting to chat. When you are scheduled to work, treat that time just like you were working a regular job.
• The second requirement will be a dedicated phone line. With some companies, the line will just need to be equipped with basic local service with no call waiting, no voice mail, and no caller id. It’s a good idea not to give your work number out to family and friends. You want nothing but work calls coming in on the line. Other companies may require you to have long distance to a specific city or area. The requirements for long distance service will vary from company to company.
• The third requirement will be the telephone itself. There are many good brands of phones available. Be sure to get a good, reliable one. Most companies will require a phone that is hardwired, meaning no wireless phones and no wireless headsets. In addition, you will need a headset with microphone. I recommend a noise canceling microphone. Make sure the headset is comfortable for you.
• The fourth requirement is a good solid broadband internet connection. This can be either DSL or cable and in some areas wireless. I don’t recommend a wireless broadband connect due to its instability in bad weather. Some companies will require DSL or cable only. Regardless of which type of internet connection you use, it has to be reliable because your business relies on it.
• The fifth requirement is your computer. I recommend a 2.0 ghz processor with at least 1 megabyte of ram. Your work computer needs to be kept clean. By that I mean no extra programs installed. Install only the programs you need for your work. This will reduce the number of program glitches or incompatibilities. The operating system should be Windows XP or Vista (virtual call center applications usually won’t work with Macs or with Linux)
• Finally it’s a best practice not to have your work computer used by anyone else. This keeps someone from downloading programs and installing popup blockers or other ad-ware that can give you nightmares when trying to find and remove each of them so your system operates properly.

Keep each of these requirements when deciding to be a Virtual Call Center Agent. And good luck!

• Amazon, - www.mturk.com
• Axion Data Services, www.Axiondata.com
• CyberSecretaries, http://typist.youdictate.com
• DionData Services, www.Angelfire.com/ia3/diondataservices/joblistings.html
• Giving Answers LLC, www.givinganswers.com
• Keyers Online – www.keyersonline.com
• OnSite E-Discovery, www.Onss.com

You can increase your buyer conversion rate (the percentage who buy out of the number who look) with an auction template that includes more pictures.

Here is a free auction template that produces attractive and professional looking listings that feature 4 photos per listing. Use a free photo host to avoid more eBay fees!

Free 4 Photo Auction Template